Jeremiah

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

1This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the LORD.

2Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.

2This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: "Write down in a book every word I have spoken to you.

3For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

3Listen! The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from the land where they were held as prisoners. I will bring them home to the land I gave their fathers, and it will be theirs again, says the LORD."

4And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.

4These are the words the LORD spoke about Israel and about Judah.

5For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

5This is what the LORD says: "We have heard a cry of panic. It is a cry of fear, not of peace.

6Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

6Ask around and look. Can a man give birth to a baby? Then why do I see every man holding his stomach like a woman in labor? Why has every face turned pale?

7Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

7How terrible that day will be! No other day is like it. It is the time of Jacob's trouble, but Jacob will be saved out of it.

Note"Jacob" here means the whole nation of Israel, named after their ancestor Jacob. The same is true in verses 10 and 18.

8For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

8On that day, says the LORD of Armies, I will break the heavy yoke off your neck. I will snap the ropes that tie you. Foreigners will not make slaves of you anymore.

9But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

9Instead, they will serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

10Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.

10So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, says the LORD. Do not lose heart, Israel. I will save you from that faraway place. I will save your children from the land where they are held. Jacob will come home and live in peace and quiet, and no one will frighten him.

11For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.

11I am with you to save you, says the LORD. I will completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will correct you, but only as much as is fair. Even so, I will not leave you unpunished."

12For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.

12This is what the LORD says: "Your injury cannot be healed. Your wound is very bad.

13There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.

13There is no one to speak up for you. There is nothing to put on your sores. There is no cure for you.

14All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.

14All your lovers have forgotten you. They do not come looking for you. I struck you the way an enemy would. I punished you the way a cruel person would, because your wrongdoing was so great and your sins were so many.

Note"Lovers" does not mean romantic partners. It means the other nations Judah made deals with and trusted for protection.

15Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.

15Why do you cry out about your injury? Your pain cannot be cured. I did these things to you because your wrongdoing was so great and your sins were so many.

16Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.

16But everyone who eats you up will be eaten up. Every single one of your enemies will be carried off as a prisoner. Those who robbed you will be robbed. Everyone who took from you will have things taken from them.

17For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

17I will bring your health back. I will heal your wounds, says the LORD. They called you an outcast and said, 'This is Zion. Nobody cares about her.'"

NoteZion is another name for Jerusalem and the people who live there.

18Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.

18This is what the LORD says: "I will bring Jacob's tents back from captivity. I will show kindness to the places where his people live. The city will be rebuilt on its own pile of rubble. The palace will stand again where it belongs.

NoteWhen an old city was destroyed, the rubble stayed and formed a mound. A new city was then built on top of that mound.

19And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.

19Songs of thanks will come from them, and the sound of people celebrating. I will make them many, and they will not be few. I will give them honor, and they will not be looked down on.

20Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.

20Their children will be as they were long ago. Their community will stand firm before me. I will punish everyone who treats them badly.

21And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.

21Their leader will be one of their own people. Their ruler will come from among them. I will bring him close, and he will come near to me. For who would dare come near me on his own? says the LORD.

22And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

22You will be my people, and I will be your God."

23Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.

23Look! The storm of the LORD bursts out in anger. It is a whirlwind that keeps spinning, and it comes down on the heads of the wicked.

24The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.

24The LORD's fierce anger will not turn back until he has finished what he set out to do. In the days to come, you will understand this.